Boat with adjustable bottom

ABSTRACT

A BOAT WHICH HAS A DECK SITUATED BETWEEN A PAIR OF SIDES OF THE HULL, THESE SIDES EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY BELOW THE DECK WHERE THE SIDES RESPECTIVELY HAVE BOTTOM EDGES. THE HULL INCLUDES A BOTTOM WALL CONNECTED TO THESE BOTTOM EDGES TO BE CARRIED BY THE SIDES OF THE HULL, AND THIS BOTTOM WALL OF THE HULL IS ADJUSTABLE SO THAT IT CAN ASSUME A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS. THESE CONFIGURATIONS CAN INCLUDE A RANGE FROM A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT CONFIGURATION TO A V-SHAPED CONFIGURATION. AN ADJUSTING STRUCTURE IS CONNECTED TO THE BOTTOM WALL TO ADJUST THE LATTER SO THAT IT   WILL ASSUME A CONFIGURATION DETERMINED BY THE ADJUSTING STRUCTURE, AND A STRUCTURE WHICH RESPONDS TO THE CONDITION OF THE WATER IN WHICH THE BOAT IS SITUATED IS CAPABLE TO AUTOMATICALLY ACTUATING THE ADJUSTING STRUCTURE TO ACT THROUGH THE LATTER ON THE BOTTOM WALL TO PROVBIDE IT AUTOMATICALLY WITH A CONFIGURATION WHICH IS ADAPTED TO THE PARTICULAR CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE BOAT IS OPERATED.

Feb. `2, 1971 H. L. WALKER BOAT WITH ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM Filed oct. 2a. 196e I Sheets-Sheet l fw 42 sa afa 42 o www@ ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 197,1v H. l.. WALKER 3,559,222

BOAT 'WITH ADJUSTABLE BoTToM 'Filed oct. 28,' 196e v sheets-sheet z f T1 En. 7?V f4 5i M fi,

y 44 I- *l 4 INVENTOR d f7/@04a Z. Waffe BY #ma ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1971 n.1.. WALKER y, 3,559,222

' I A -BOM' WITH ADJUSTABLE Bo'rToM Filed oct. 2s. ,196e 'I sheets-sheet :s

mvENToR A4720 /L/QL K5@ ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 11971" H. L. WALKER BOAT WITH ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM I Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed ocufze, 196s "T1 1E. r

'.'Tlc 17.

INVENTOR www Waff/z WWW ATTORNEYS Feb. 2,1971 n.1.. WALKER 3,559,222

. BOAT wxTH ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM Filed oct, 28.51968 'l sheets-sheet 5 p, lNvEN-ron A21/emo Wiz/5? ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1971` i H, L. WALKER 3,559,222

Bow wrm `n.mswexma BOTTOM Filed oct.v 28. 1968 5 'l sheets-sheet s :FEV as. y Tmp LE- VACUUM PRODUCNG 111/1 l/l/l/l 1/1 lNvEN-ron Issu Agfa o .4. W44 A/f/e BY Wwf/M AJTORNEYS Feb. 2,y 1971 H. L. WALKER BOAT WITH ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM 'I Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oc'fI 28. 1968 lNvENToR Mrap A, Maz. K5?

United States Patent Office 3,559,222 Patented Feb. 2., 1971 3,559,222 BOAT WITH ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM Harold L. Walker, Whitestone, N.Y., assignor to Albert C. Nolte, Jr., New York, N.Y., a fractional part interest Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 650,955, July 3, 1967. This appplication Oct. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 795,369

Int. Cl. B63b 3/00, 5 /00 U.S. Cl. 9-6 25 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A boat which has a deck situated between a pair of sides of the hull, these sides extending downwardly below the deck where the sides respectively have bottom edges. The hull includes a bottom wall connected to these bottom edges to be carried by the sides of the hull, and this bottom wall of the hull is adjustable so that it can assume a number of different configurations. These configurations can include a range from a substantially fiat configuration to a V-shaped coniiguration. An adjusting structure is connected to the bottom wall to adjust the latter so that it will assume a configuration determined by the adjusting structure, and a structure which responds to the condition of the water in which the boat is situated is capable of automatically actuating the adjusting structure to act through the latter on the bottom Wall to provide it automatically with a configuration which is adapted to the particular conditions under which the boat is operated.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my co-pending application Ser. No. 650,955, filed July 3, 1967 and entitled Boat With Adjustable Bottom and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to boats.

As is well known, when a boat oats on a body of relatively smooth water, the boat will be capable of travelling at its fastest speed with the least consumption of energy if the bottom of the hull is flat so that the boat can under these conditions skim or plane along the surface of the water. On the other hand, a boat with such a at bottom could not operate in the best possible way when the water is relatively wavy or choppy, and under these latter conditions it is best if the hull has a bottom of a substantially V-shaped configuration, for example, so as to give to the boat stability in the relatively rough water while at the same time making it possible for the boat to travel at a fairly good speed under such operating conditions.

Of course, the changes in the operating conditions which a boat is likely to encounter, as outlined above, makes it ditiicult for the boat to have a construction which will render it possible for the boat to operate at peak efficiency under all operating conditions. The best that can be done with known constructions is to provide the boat with a conliguration at the bottom of its hull which will be a compromise giving the boat the best possible approach to good operating conditions under the widely varying conditions of the water which are normally encountered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide a boat which will operate at peak efliciency under all conditions of the water on which the boat floats.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a boat 'with a hull having a bottom wall which can be adjusted so as to assume various different contigurations adapted to the particular conditions under which the boat is operated.

Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a construction which will operate automatically to provide the bottom of the hull with a configuration which is best suited to the particular operating conditions.

'In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a structure of this type which is exceedingly rugged and reliable in operation while at the same time being quite simple.

Accordingly, with the present invention the boat has a deck which is situated between the opposed sides of a hull, these sides extending downwardly beyond the deck where the sides respectively have bottom edges. The hull includes a bottom wall means extending between the sides thereof and connected to the sides at the region of the bottom edges thereof, this bottom wall means being capable of assuming a wide variety of different configurations in accordance with the particular operating conditions which are encountered.

An adjusting means coacts with the bottom wall means to adjust the latter to assume a configuration corresponding to the particular operating conditions which prevail, and an actuating means is capable of responding, automatically to the operating conditions for automatically actuating the adjusting means to provide through the latter a configuration for the bottom wall means which will be adapted to the conditions under which the boat is operated.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a hull for powerboats, sailboats and liquid tankers takes the form of an outside wall or outer hull of exible but strong material and a spaced rigid deck. A plurality of elongated flexible but non-stretchable tubes form a core that is pressurized by means of gaseous or liquid medium in the tubes, and the tubes are located in the area between the outer hull and deck. It should be apparent that a watercraft may be constructed within the teachings of the present invention in which the outer skin or hull is eliminated and the tubes could alternately be pressurized and a vacuum pulled therein. The space between or in the tubes has a vacuum therein, thus the shape of the hull may be changed by altering both the pressure in the tubes and the vacuum surrounding them. v

The aforesaid embodiment has a large safety factor due to the multiple tube construction whereby if the tanker runs aground, the total loss of cargo is eliminated since only some of the tubes will rupture. The structure furthermore eliminates areas in the cargo hold for dangerous gaseous fumes to form, thereby materially reducing the potential hazard of ltire and explosion. In addition, the present structure significantly reduces boil-` off and evaporation of the cargo. Ballast problems are eliminated with selective tube loading, as well as problems of expansion and contraction of the cargo. The hull seaworthiness is improved by the present construction when empty and, in addition, the ship propulsion ef-4 ficiency is greatly increased with an empty hull. As far as the loading and unloading of the cargo is concerned, a maximum loading efficiency results from the present construction, with no problems arising from pressure and purge. Moreover, unloading pressure is available by increasing the vacuum between the inner deck and outer hull and there is no rise and fall of the ship in loading and unloading operations. Furthermore, the present construction results in controlled stability of the ship underway and at rest, hull adjustment for selected torque, hull rigidity which increases with pressure, and debarnacling of the hull by varying tube pressures. In addition, fuel can be stored in selected tubes in pleasure boats thereb increasing the safety factor thereof. Y

3 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation of one possible embodiment of a boat constructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the boat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section of the boat of FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along line 3 3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is also a transverse section of the boat of FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 4 showing the bottom wall in the position different from that of FIG. 3 and being taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the boat of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the parts in the position different from that of FIG. 2 and corresponding to the position shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the boat of FIGS. 1-5 taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows and showing fragmentarily the part of the boat which is situated above the deck thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary transverse section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section taken along line 8-48 of FIG. 5 in the direction of the arrows;

1FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section corresponding to that of FIG. 6 but showing the parts in a different position, FIG. 9 showing components of the adjusting structure which are not illustrated in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a schematic side elevation of another embodiment of a boat according to the present invention;

FIG. 1l is a bottom plan view of the boat of FIG. l0;

FIG. 12 is a transverse section of the boat of FIGS. 10 and 1l showing the bottom wall in a relatively at condition;

FIG. 13 is a transverse section of the boat of FIGS. 10 and 1l showing the bottom wall provided with a substantially V-shaped configuration;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary transverse section showing at an enlarged scale how components of the bottom wall coact with each other;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary transverse section showing the components of FIG. 14 in a different position;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary transverse section showing how components of FIGS. l4 and 15 are capable of assuming yet another position;

FIG. 17 is a transverse section of yet another embodiment of a boat according to the invention, the bottom of the hull of the boat of FIG. 17 being shown when it takes a substantially V-shaped configuration;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the 'boat of FIG. 17 but showing the bottom of the hull in a different position than that shown in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a transverse section of the boat of FIG. 18 taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 18 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 20 is a transverse section of yet another embodiment of a boat according to the present invention, FIG. 20 showing how the bottom wall of the hull is capable of assuming different positions;

FIG. 21 is a bottom plan view of the boat of FIG. 20 illustrating the bottom of the hull in a position of adjustment different from that of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a transverse section of the boat of FIG. 21 taken along line 22-22 of FIG. 21 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGS. 23 and 24 are sectional views of another embodiment of the present invention with the bottom wall thereof in two different positions;

FIG. 25 is a longitudinal sectional view of a boat incorporating another embodiment of the present invention having a pneumatic device for automatically altering the planing angles of the boat;

FIG. 26 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 25; t

FIGS. 25, 26 and 27 are sectional views of another embodiment of the present invention utilizing a multiplicity of elongated, flexible tubes in the space between the bottom wall and the deck;

FIGS. 28 and 29 are sectional views of still another embodiment of the present invention having a bottom wall with exible joints;

FIG. 30 is a side elevation view of a liquid tanker having a hull construction in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 31a is a sectional View taken through line 31a- 31a of FIG. 30 illustrating the liquid tanker in its loaded condition;

FIG. 3lb is a sectional view of the liquid tanker in its unloaded condition; and

FIG. 32 is a sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention,

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings and to FIGS. l-9 in particular, it will be seen that the boat 30 which is illustrated therein includes a deck 32. Also, the boat has a hull 34 which includes a pair of opposed sides 36 between which the deck 32 extends and to which the deck 32 is iixed so as to be carried by the sides 36 of the hull 34. These sides 36 respectively have bottom edges 38 situated below the deck 32.

In accordance with the invention, the hull 34 includes also a bottom wall means 40 which is adjustable so that it is capable of assuming different configurations such as those which are respectively illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, it will be seen that in FIG. 3 the bottom wall means 40 has a substantially at configuration while in FIG. 4 the bottom wall means has a V-shaped configuration.

In the illustrated example, the bottom wall means 40 is connected to the sides 36 of the hull 34 at the region of the bottom edges 38 of these sides, respectively, by a pair of longitudinally extending hinge means 42 which are in the form of elongated conventional hinges each having a pair of pivotally interconected, longitudinally extending webs one of which is connected to a side 36 at the region of its bottom edge 38 and the other of which is connected to the bottom wall means 40 in a manner described in greater detail below.

As is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 5, the bottom wall means 40 is composed of a pair of rows of transversely extending slats or wall portions 44. These rows of wall portions 44 extend from the pair of hinge means 42 up to a central elongated hinge member 46. The manner in which these wall portions 44 are connected to the pair of hinge means 42 and the central hinge 46 is shown most clearly in FIG. 7. Thus, referring to FIG. 7, it will be seen that each wall portion 44 has an inner end swingably connected to a web of the hinge 46 by a pin 48, while each wall portion 44 has an outer end swingably connected to the freely swingable web of a hinge means 42 by a pin 50. The arrangement of the pins 50 which swingably connect the outer ends, respectively, of the wall portions 44 to the pair of hinge means 42 and the pins l48 which swingably connect the inner ends of the wall portions 44 to the central hinge 46 is clearly apparent from FIGS. 2 and 5.

Thus, it will be seen that each wall portion 44 is connected to a pair of pins 48 and 50 which pass through the wall portion 44 at the region of its ends and at the region of its rear edge. Moreover, as is most clearly shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the rear edge 52 of each wall portion 44 in a given row overlaps the front edge 54 of the next following wall portion 44. Thus, as the bottom wall means 40 changes its configuration while moving from the position of FIGS. 2 and 3 into the position of FIGS. 4 and 5, the inner ends of the wall portions 44 which are connected to the central hinge 48 will move rearwardly while the wall portions swing about their pin connections to the several hinges until the wall portions have the position shown in FIG. 5 where they are almost perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the boat. On the other hand, when returning from the substantially V-shaped configuration of FIGS. (4 and 5 into the substantially flat configuration of FIGS. 2 and 3), the inner ends of the wall portions 44 will swing forwardly to the position indicated in FIG. 2 while the wall portions swing in the opposite directions with respect to the several hinges at their pins 48 and 50. In this way while the several wall portions of each row remain in overlapping relation with respect to each other, they slide with respect to each other while the bottom wall means 40 assumes the different configurations such as those indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and, of course, all positions therebetween.

As is apparent from FIGS. 2 and 5, the deck 32 tapers at the region of its forward end while the sides 36 approach each other at the region of the forward end of the boat 30 solas to define the bow thereof, and at this bowof the boat 30, the bottom wall means 40 includes a plurality of longitudinally extending wall portions 56 which are of triangular configuration and which have their front apexes situated at the front end of the bottom wall means 40. These front wall portions 56 are capable of assuming the inclination indicated, for example, in FIG. 1, as well as in FIGS. 6 and 9, where they are inclined downwardly and rearwardly with the rear ends of the longitudinal wall portions 56 overlapping the front transverse wall portions 44 in the manner which is most clearly apparent from FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 9.

As may be seen from FIG. 8, the longitudinal wall portions 56 are in the form of the triangular slats whose configuration is most clearly apparent from FIGS. 2 and 5, these slats being made from any suitable plastic such as fiber glass, for example, and at their side edges the triangular slats 56 are hinged to each other as well as to the sides 36 of the hull 34 by plastic hinges such as nylon hinges 58 welded or fused in any suitable manner to the slats 56 so that when these slats change their inclination, the hinges 58 will permit the side edges of the slats to approach and move away from each other. In the same way, the side edges of the outer slats 56 are fixed in any suitable way through such plastic hinges to the sides of the hull 34. p

. .An adjusting means is provided for adjusting the bottom wall means 40 of the hull 34, and this adjusting means includes in the illustrated example an expandable and contractable fluid-tight enclosure 60 made of any suitable fluid-tight flexible sheet material and capable of expanding from a contracted position, such as that shown in FIG. y3, to an expanded condition, such as that shown in FIG. 4. This adjusting means 60 is situated between the deck 32 and the bottom wall means 40 pressing against the deck 32 and the bottom wall means 40, so that when a fluid under-pressure is introduced into the enclosure 60 it will expand from the condition of FIG. 3 into the condition of FIG. 4, for example, thus causing the bottom wall means 40 to change from the configuration of FIG. 3 to the configuration of FIG. 4.

In the illustrated example, the adjusting means 60 takes the form of an inflatable, fluid-tight bag capable of receiving air under pressure, and an actuating means is operatively connected with the adjusting means 60 to actuate the latter so as to'adjust the bottom wall means 40. As will be apparent from the description below, this actuating means is capable of responding automatically to the conditions under which the boat 30 is operated for automatically providing the bottom wall means 40 with a configuration which is adapted to the particular operating conditions.

In the example shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the actuating means takes the form of a bellows 62 having an upper rigid fixed wall 64 fixed between the deck 32 and the forward ends of the sides 36, and the bellows includes a lower rigid wall 66 hinged to the upper wall 64, the flexible part of the bellows 62 being situated between and fluid-tightly connected to the walls 64 and 66. The pressure within the bellows is capable of maintaining the bottom swinga-ble wall 66 thereof in engagement with the forward wall portions 56 of the bottom wall means, and the top wall 65 of the bellows communicates in a fluidtight manner through a suitable tube 68 with the interior of the hollow adjusting means 60. As its end which communicates with the bellows 62, the tube 68 may carry a suitable known one-way valve which permits air to enter into the bellows when the latter expands but prevents air from discharging from the bellows during the contraction thereof, this one-way valve also acting to permit the air to pass from the bellows 62 into the enclosure 60 during contracting of the bellows but preventing the air from flowing out of the enclosure 60 toward the bellows 62.

Thus, assuming that the bottom wall means is initially in the flat condition shown in FIG. 3 provided for the best possible operation on a relatively smooth-surfaced body of water, and that conditions change so that the Water becomes choppy, then the result is that the forward wall portions S6 will start to swing causing reciprocation of the bellows 62 in a fully automatic manner and causing the air to be pumped into the enclosure 60 so as to expand the latter. In accordance with the particular degree of roughness the bottom wall means will automatically assume a condition of equilibrium such as one between the positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Any suitable lmanually operable valve which is accessible to the operator may communicate with the enclosure 60 for releasing the air under pressure therefrom when calm conditions again prevail. This manual valve is also provided with a small bleed so that the hull automatically corrects to smooth water conditions.

In order to maintain the bottom wall means in engagement with the adjusting means 60 during contraction of the latter, a cable 70 is connected at one end to the cen' tral hinge 46, extends through a suitable guide opening 72 formed in the deck 32 at the bow thereof7 and the upper end of the cable 72 is fixed to a piston which is slidable in a cylinder 74 and which is acted upon by a spring situated within the cylinder so as to be urged upwardly, thus providing a constant upward force on the central hinge tending to oppose the force of the fluid which is under pressure within the enclosure 60. In this way, the bottom wall means will reliably follow the expansion and contraction movements of the adjusting means 60.

Of course, instead of a bellows, it is possible to provide any source of compressed gas communicating with the inflatable enclosure 60 and responding to changes in the angular position of the forward wall portions 56 of the bottom wall means 40 of the hull for automatically providing the enclosure 60 with air under pressure to cause the bottom wall means automatically to assume a condition which is adatped to the particular operating conditions.

FIG. 8 shows in dot-dash lines how the front wall portions 56 overlap each other upon yielding of the plastic hinges 58 as the front wall portion of the bottom wall means changes between the positions which correspond to those shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and which are respectively illustarted in FIG. 8 in the dot-dash lines and in the solid lines.

As is apparent from FIG. 9, the hollow enclosure 60 extends all the way up to the stern of the boat 30 and can be freely exposed beneath the transom 76 when the bottom wall means has the substantially V-shaped configuration shown in FIG. 4.

In the remaining embodiments of the invention described below, the same adjusting means is used and the 7 same actuating means is also used, these additional ernbodiments also having for the bottom wall means thereof a forward wall structure identical with that described above and shown in FIGS. 2, and 8. This structure includes the triangular slate 56 hingedly interconnected with each other by the plastic hinges 58, as pointed out above.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 10-16, the boat 80 differs from the boat 30 only in that the bottom wall means 82 has to the rear of its forward wall portion a different construction composed of longitudinally extending slats 90. As is apparent from FIGS. 12 and 13, these longitudinally extending slats 90 are hingedly connected to each other in side by side relation with the outer slats having their side edges respectively fixed to the pair of hinge means 42. The central pair of slats 92a and 92b are hinged directly to each other, as is apparent from FIGS. 14 and 15, while the remaining slats are hinged to each other by plastic hinges 94. Thus, the slats 92a and 92b as well as all of the remaining slats 90 may be made of fiber glass or any suitable plastic, and they are fused or otherwise joined to the flexible plastic hinges 94 which may be made of nylon, for example. When the bottom wall means 88 has the relatively flat condition shown in FIG. l2, the nylon hinges 94 will have the condition shown in FIG. 16, while when the bottom wall means 88 has the configuration shown in FIG. 13, the hinges 94 will have the condition shown in FIG. 15. These hinges are shown in intermediate condition shown in FIG. 14. The cable 70, which is not illustrated in FIGS. 10-16, is connected to the junction between the central slats 92a and 92b so that the structure of FIGS. 10-16 will operate in the same Way as that of FIGS. 1-9, except that in this case it is longitudinally extending slats 90 which will provide the bottom wall means 88 with its different congurations.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS. 17-19 also differs from the other embodiments only in connection with the construction of the bottom wall means 100 to the rear of its forward portion which includes the slats 56 and is identical with the construction shown in FIG. 8 and described above. Also, the adjusting means 60 is identical and is actuated in the same way. The boat 102 of this embodiment includes a hull which, except for the bottom wall means 100, is identical with that described above, and a deck 32 is carried by the hull in the manner described above.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 17-19, the bottom wall means 100 has to the rear of its forward portion only a pair of longitudinal wall portions 104 which are fixed at their outer side edges to the pair of hinge means 42 which are identical with the hinge means 42 described above. At their inner side edges, however, the pair of longitudinally extending wall portions 104 are fixed to an elongated central hinge 106 which actually is a pair of hinges 108a and 108b. The hinge 108a has a left web fixed to the inner edge of the left longitudinal wall portion 104 of FIGS. 19 and 17, while the hinge 108 has a right web fixed to the inner edge of the right longitudinal wall 104 of the bottom wall means 100 of this embodiment, as viewed in FIGS. 17 and 19. These hinges 108a and 108b have inner webs extending inwardly beyond the wall portions 104 and hingedly connected to each other, so that in this Way the bottom wall means 100 can be displaced between the positions shown in FIGS. 17 and 19.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIGS. -22 is similar to that of FIGS. 17-19 except that the longitudinal wall portions 110, which correspond to the wall portions 104, are somewhat wider than the latter, and the hinge means 42 is replaced by a hinge means 112. Thus, each of the side walls 36 of the hull 34 has fixed to its bottom edges a hinge 112 having a pair of outer webs 114a and 114b pivotally connected to the side edges of an intermediate -web 114e. The outer edges of the slats 110 are lfixed to the webs 114b While the inner webs 114a are fixed directly to the sides 36 of the hull, so that the intermediate webs 114C are capable of swinging between the positions indicated in FIGS. 20 and 22. It will be noted from the dot-dash line position of the bottom wall means 116 indicated in FIG. 20 that when the webs 114b and 114e` are in a common plane the `bottom wall means is capable of assuming an exceedingly sharp V-shaped configuration with this embodiment. The elongated central hinge 106 of FIGS. 20-22 is identical with that of FIGS. 17-19.

The slats 104 and 110 can be made of any suitable sheet material such as a suitable plastic made of liber glass, for example, although metal also can be used, such as sheet aluminum.

It is thus possible `with the structure of the invention to provide a variably shaped boat hull capable of assuming all known hull configurations as well as some hull configurations which at the present time are unknown. In addition, the shape which is assumed by the bottom wall means of the hull can be adapted to the conditions of the water while the boat is in motion. The construction of the variably shaped hull of the invention can accommodate all power drives, and all of the latest well known and most economical and dependable materials can be used for the structure, such as fiber glass, nylon hinges, etc., as pointed out above.

With the hull of the invention, safety and smooth riding of the boat are assured. It Iwill be noted that because of the situation of the bottom wall means beneath the deck, there are in fact two hulls in one, providing an added proteetion in the event that one hull should be damaged. The adjusting means 60 provides the boat with a flotation compartment. In addition, instead of using a single enclosure 60, it is possible to provide a plurality of inflatable enclosures extending longitudinally of the vessel and situated in side by side relation between the deck and the adjust- A able bottom wall means of the invention, these several enclosures communicating with a common source of cornpressed air, for example. The bottom wall means of the hull of the invention will ybe capable of assuming various shapes for all seas, and by varying the pressure of the gas within the inflatable enclosure, it is possible to provide either a soft hull or a hard hull. For particularly severe conditions, it is possible to use a fluid in the form of a liquid which can be pumped into the expandable enclosures.

In addition, it is to be noted that the structure of the invention can be used for airplane pontoons, providing for such pontoons a safer and more economical construction than has heretofore been possible.

With the hull of the present invention, outstanding fuel savings are achieved because the different shapes which can be assumed by the adjustable bottom Wall means, varying from fiat, a deep V-shaped configuration, or even a round or hydropane configuration or beyond, enable the most efiicient operating conditions to be achieved, so that the cost of operation can be greatly reduced.

FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate the embodiment of the present invention in which a bottom wall 118 is constituted of various plywood or flexible fiber glass sections 118a-118f, respectively, which are hinged together at points lll-hq, respectively. Pivotally attached at P1 to the deck 32 are two pivotable rigid members 120 which are additionally pivotaby attached at their other ends at P2 to sections 118e` and 118d, respectively of the bottom wall 118. It will be noted that the members 120 in the position illustrated in FIG. 23 from a bottom wall wihch is dihedral, resulting in greater stability of the craft. In FIG. 24, the members 120 are pivoted to the position in which the bottom wall assumes a V-shaped configuration.

FIGS. 25 and 26 disclose an alternate embodiment in which the bottom wall 144 is fabricated of flexible fiber glass or flexible nylon reinforced vinyl. The bottom wall 144 has a bi-directional hinge positioned centrally at 1113. At this area, the bottom 144 is less rigid and more pliable. Located between the deck 32 and the bottom wall 144 is an enclosed area 146 provided with a multiplicity of non-stretch tubes 148 which'are preferable iiexible nylon reinforced vinyl attached to4 one or another which extend the length of the bottom wall 144 and substantially filling the enclosed area 146 forming a tube bundle attached to both'the deck 32 and the bottom wall 144. The tubes 148 are adapted to be pressurized or a vacuum applied thereto and, in addition, a vacuum is drawn in the area 146 between the tubes 148. It should be apparent that by pressurizing the tubes 148 in FIG. 25, the bottom wall 144 which is hinged at hm, assumes the V-shaped position illustrated in FIG. 28. The structure shown in FIG. 29 is similar to the arrangement disclosed in FIGS. 25,and 26,' however, the tube bundles 148 are arranged in three distinct triangular-shaped sections A, B vand C of the enclosed area 146. In this embodiment, the deck 150 has` a relatively flat portion 152v together with angular side portions 154 connected thereto. In addition, it should be noted that the inside surface of the bottom wall 144 is provided with a plurality of smaller diameter tubes 143 adjacent to wall 144 or by a porous material or pebbling (not shown), to form a series of vlongitudinal channels, through whichr a vacuum may be draw. Thus, by `i11- creasing or decreasing the pressure inthe non-stretchable but flexible tubes 148, the shape of the iiexible bottom wall 144 is controlled. Accordingly, if section B is pressurized and sections A and C depressurized, the bottom wall of the craft assumes the dotted line position and is generally VShaped. However, if sections A and C are pressurized and section B depressurized, the bottom wall 144 assumes the full line position which is generally a fiat configuration.

FIGS. 28 and 29 are directed to a structure similar to that illustrated in FIG. 26, however the embodiment shown in FIGS* 28 and 29 disclosed both a deck 32 and a bottom wall 156. The 'bottom wall 156 is constituted of sections `rigid 156a, 156b, 156C and 156d interconnected by FIG. 30 is a side elevation view of an ocean-going i tanker T adapted for carrying a liquid cargo. As shown in 33a, a section of the tanker T is illustrated with a multiplicity of interconnected tubes forming a honeycomb c ore 160 in which the liquid cargo is in the various tubes so that the iiexible hull 162 assumesthe expanded bulbous shape as shown in FIG. 31a. Therefore, the liquid cargo in the various tubes 148 inthe honeycomb core 160 forces the hull to shape to the crgo. However, when the tubes 148 are emptied, the hull collapses due to the vacuum therein controlling the hull configuration and the hull assumes the contracted shape illustrated in FIG. 31b. A power and crew section 164 is shown which is independent of the liquid cargo section. Provision is made in the tubes 148 for automatically venting the same of gases and vapors (not shown). It should also be noted that the honeycomb core construction eliminates the need for additional ballast tanks in the ship and, moreover, minimizes the bilge water problem. An important improvement over existing hull construction is the safety factor resulting from the multiple tube cargo area. Thus, if the shipv runs aground, the rupture of the hull will result only of the loss of the liquid cargo in the ruptured tubes and not in the entire cargo. In addition, since the honeycomb tube construction fills the entire ship cargo area, there are no spaces remaining for dangerous fumes and vapor to form, thus eliminating potential explosions and fires and making the purging of gaseous fumes in the cargo hold unnecessary. Moreover, cargo expansion and contraction problems are elimnated by the present construction, and the hull seaworthiness as well as ship propulsion efficiency is vastly improved when the tanker is empty (FIG. 3 1b).

The construction of FIG. 31a is improved by providing for unloading of the liquid cargo in the tubes 148 by increasing the vacuum between the hull 162 and the deck of lthe power and crew section of the tanker T. In addition, the present construction results in controlled stability of the vessel whether underway or at dockside, and the ability to debarnacle the hull by varying the pressures in the outer row of tubes 148. i

FIG. 32 is a view of another embodiment of the present invention in which the flexible bottom wall or outer hull 166 is spaced from the rigid deck 168. Tie strips 170 of flexible construction are each connected at one end to the flexible outer wall 166 and at the other end to the rigid deck 168. The flexible outer wall may assume various positions, for example A, the full line position, and B, C and D, the dotted line positions. Thus, the amount of pressure exerted on the flexible outer Wall 166 determines the position assumed by the wall or outer hull 166. It should also be noted that longitudinal flexible vinyl strips X and Y are located in such a manner and sealed to both the iiexible outer wall 166 and rigid deck 168 to form three separate compartments 172, 174 and 176. Compartments 170 and 172 may be pressurized while compartment 174 is depressurized, causing the latter to collapse inwardly and form a at bottom, as shown in dotted lines, and referred to by the reference numeral A. Alternatively, compartments 172 and 176 may be collapsed and compartment 174 pressurized in accordance with the full line position B, thereby forming a V-shaped bottom.

As seen in FIG. 34 the outer hull is provided with tubes 147 adacent to the deck 32 which have controlled pressure therein to thereby maintain the outer hull skin taut with varying cargos, such as half loads.

f What is claimed is:

1. In a floating structure such as a boat, a deck, and

a hull, said hull having a pair of opposed sides between which said deck extends, and said opposed sides of said hull respectively having bottom edges situated beneath said deck, and said hull including, beneath and spaced from said deck, a bottom wall means carried by said sides of said hull in the region of said bottom edges thereof for assuming a plurality of different configurations, means for producing a vacuum in said enclosure formed by said hull, deck and bottom wall for cont-rolling the position of said bottom wall so that said hull can have at said bottom wall means thereof a configuration adapted tothe operating conditions.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein the plurality of different configurations assumed by said bottom wall means range at least between an inverted Vconfiguration and a relatively sharp V-configuration.

3. The combination of claim 2, and wherein an adjusting means is operatively connected with said bottom wall means for adjusting the latter to take a given configuration.

4. The combination of claim 3, and wherein an actuating means coacts with said adjusting means for automatically actuating the latter and for automatically responding to the operating conditions t'o adjust said bottom wall means to a configuration adapted to said conditions.

5. The combination of claim 3, wherein said adjusting means is situated between said deck and said bottom wall means.

6. The combination of claim 5 and wherein said adjusting means includes a iiexible hollow enclosure capable of expanding and contracting and pressing against said deck and said bottom Wall means for determining the configuration of the latter.

7. The combination of claim 6, wherein a Huid-supply means communicates with said hollow enclosure of supplying fluid thereto.

8. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said deck has a tapered forward portion and wherein said sides of said hull approach each other at said tapered forward portion of said deck to define a bow therewith, said bottom wall means having beneath said forward portion of said deck longitudinally extending wall portions capable of swinging from a substantially flat attitude substantially parallel to said deck to an attitude inclined downwardly and rearwardly from said bow, and said freely swingable wall portions of said bottom wall means responding automatically to the conditions of water in which the structure floats for automatically assuming an angular attitude determined by said conditions, said bottom wall means having to the rear of said forward wall portions thereof additional wall portions swingably connected to said Sides f said hull at the region of said bottom edges thereof, adjusting means situated between said rear bottom wall p0rtions and said deck for adjusting said bow and bottom Wall portions, and actuating means operatively connected with said forward wall portions for -responding automatically to the attitude assumed thereby `in response to `the conditions of the water and operatively connected to said adjusting means for automatically actuating the latter to adjust said rear bottom wall portions to a configuration determined by the angle of said forward wall portions.

9. The combination of claim 1, wherein a pair of elongated hinge means respectively hingedly connect said bottom wall means to said bottom edges of said sides of said hull for swinging movement with respect thereto, said bottom wall means including at least one additional longitudinally extending hinge situated between said pair Of hinge means and connected with components of said bottom wall means.

10. The combination of claim 9, wherein said additional hinge is situated centrally between said pair of hinge means and wherein said bottom wall means includes substantially transversely extending wall portions situated in a pair of rows one of which extends between said additional hinge and one of said hinge means and the other of which extends between said central hinge and the other of said hinge means, said transverse wall portions of Said bottom wall means each having a rear edge situated beneath a forward edge of the next following wall po-rtion of a row in a direction from front to rear, and each wall portion having an inner end swingably connected to said central hinge and an outer end swingably connected to one of said hinge means so that said transverse wall portions can swing at said ends thereof with respect to said pair of hinge means and said central hinge during a change in the configuration of said bottom wall means.

11. The combination of claim 9 and wherein said bottom wall means includes a plurality of longitudinally extending slats hingedly connected to each other in side by side relation and situated between said pair of hinge means and including at least one pair of slats xed to said pair of hinge means.

12. The combination of claim 11 and wherein said pair of slats are hingedly connected to each other by said central hinge.

13. The combination of claim 12 and wherein said pair of outer hinge means include a pair of elongated strips swingably connected to said bottom edges of said sides of said hull and having distant from said bottom edges pivotal connections with said pair of slats.

14. The combination of claim 12 and wherein said longitudinal wall portions are in the form of plastic slats 12 and said bottom wall means including between said plastic slats plastic webs connected to said slats and forming hinges therebetween.

15. A liquid cargo water craft provided with a hull having a movable bottom wall, a rigid deck element spaced from said bottom wall, a plurality of elongated nonstretchable tubes in the enclosure between said bottom wall and the deck, said tubes being the cargo-holding means for said craft, means for producing a vacuum in the spaces between said tubes, and the amount of liquid cargo in said tubes determining the bottom wall configurations of said craft.

16. A water craft as claimed in claim 15 wherein said movable bottom wall is constituted of a plurality of rigid sections interconnected by flexible hinges.

17. A water craft as claimed in claim 15 wherein said elongated tubes are interconnected in the form of a honeycomb core with portions of said core being connected to said llexible bottom wall and other portions thereof being connected to said spaced rigid deck.

18. A water craft as claimed in claim 15 wherein said elongated tubes are flexible but nonstretchable nylon reinforced fiber.

19. A water craft as claimed in claim 15 wherein said vacuum together with the pressure in said tubes causes said flexible bottom wall to move to the selected configuration.

20. A water craft as claimed in claim 15 wherein said flexible bottom wall is constituted of a nylon reinforced vinyl.

21. A water craft as claimed in claim 15 wherein said movable bottom portion is provided with a rear part and a front stepped part, an inflatable device connected between said rear and front parts for changing the plane of said craft.

22. A water craft as claimed in claim 21 wherein said inflatable device constitutes a flexible outer cover forming a chamber provided with resilient material therein, and a exible air supply conduit connected to said chamber.

23. A water craft as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a plurality of rigid members connected between said bottom and deck, each being pivotably connected to said bottom wall and deck respectively.

24. A water craft as claimed in claim 15 wherein said craft maintains a constant freeboard regardless of loading.

25. A water craft as claimed in claim 15 wherein said bottom Wall is automatically debarnacled.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,349,584 5/1944 Arnstein et al. 114-66.5X 3,076,204 2/1963 Nowak ll4 66.5X 3,108,295 10/:1963 Schor et al 9-2 3,190,587 6/1965 Fries 114-66.5X

TRYGVE M. BLIX, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 114-65, 66.5 

